Huge Puke and Plastics Question

I was away for a few days and am trying to catch up....its been busy around here. First, my puke story. I was in WDC this week and on Friday night, went to a sushi restaurant I've been to many times, food was excellent as always. We had veggie tempura, I ate tons of ginger/wasabi and ordered my favorite, red curry chicken. (I dont eat sushi or fish). We were walking home and suddenly it felt like burning fire was running thru my entire 'Y' = do you ever have times when you can feel your pouch and the "y" small intestine? My abdomen was hard. Suddenly there was this hard cramp, I leaned forward and puked. All over the sidewalk. It was the first time since surgery that I puked. My friend is a physician and knowing WLS'ers should not puke she wanted me to go to the hospital. I said no and ate 3 tums. It felt a bit better but the fire continued and then cramping again...so I went to the bathroom, by the time I got to the toilet - SUPER PUKE. I ate 3 more tums, again refused to go to the hospital and 10 minutes later, I was just fine. Not a problem since. All we can figure is that there was fish sauce in the curry or the oil used for the tempura had also been used to fry fish. The food was fresh and quite tasty. I love red curry and am quite bummed I had such a reaction as I wont order it again. I did not over eat that night by any means. But I was shocked at the seemingly large quantity of liquid/food that came out of me. Obviously something was not right and I am glad that my body will still reject something seriously wrong. Change of topic..... My plastics question.....I am 4 weeks out!!!! My surgeon and other patients say that the binder is the most important part and I must wear it all the time for 3 months, otherwise there will be swelling. I've not heard anyone here speak of a binder (supposed to be a wrap/compression kinda thing to wear around the abdomen). He says if I wear it, I wont have any such problems as it prohibits fluid build up. I'm going to go to the plastics board and see what I can pick up there but wanted to ask..... Have a great day!!! ~Tiffany

Sorry this happened to you! I've never actually puked up food particles, just dry heaved here and there. I hate throwing up! So I have great sympathy for you! I know anytime I can eat FF but last time I ate them, major abdominal pains! And I only ate a few. I guess our bodies react differently everyday to foods we've been eating for almost 2 years now. Hope you're feeling better! As for the binder, some people may have other compression garments. Your doc may have chosen the binder over personal preference also depending on the procedure you had compared to others. April

Yes I get the "super pukes" way too much If I eat too fast or eat that extra bite and sometimes it does happen awhile later. I've started carrying zip lock bags in my purse and in the glove compartment of my car. I guess it's my version of morning sickness although I don't usually get nauseous first. But I do about twice a week on average, sometimes more if I'm not really paying attention to what I'm doing.

Hey, Tiffany! I can't give any input or feedback on the super puke. I've only thrown up a couple of times since surgery - and that's been more of the "foamy"spit-up, not really throwing up. Only once did I truly throw up and that's because in all my post-surgical wisdom, I wasn't aware of how fast alcohol would affect me. As far as the plastics question -- congratulations! I couldn't tell by your wording if you were 4 weeks out or had 4 weeks until your procedure. I am 10 weeks out from a LBL and my surgeon required a Stage 1 compression garment. You step into it, pull it up your legs and then hook & eye and zip it up your sides. Mine goes from mid-thigh up to underneath my breasts and is crotchless. I do hate to tell you, though, that even with a binder or garment, you WILL swell. It's inevitable -- everyone does to some degree. I wore mine religiously -- had two of them that I switched out to wash. For the first six week I NEVER took it off, not even when it was driving me nuts!!! And I still swelled up. The swelling can last for quite a few months. Good luck to you and feel free to ask any questions if you want! I did tons of research, reading and such, but the best practical advice I've gotten so far came from some of the wonderful ladies on the plastics board. Lisa

Thanks, Lisa, for your insight. I am on the table 4 weeks from today. I feel so puffy now despite my focus on eating right. I will keep you posted along the way and appreciate your advise and guidance. ~Tiffany

I'm with ya on the pukes- ewwwwwwwww! Plastics- You WILL Swell! The binder, to me, helps to aid the discomfort of the swell. I'm roughly nine weeks outs and still wear my TT binder daily. In fact... today si the first day I'm going to try gonig with out it until work. We'll see how I do. My surgeon already informed me I didn't need to wear it. I wear it for the extra support and the the slim lines lol. IT was pricey! I'm gonna get all the use out of it hehehehehe